Briefly

UNITED STATES

Key adviser named to Federal Reserve Board

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday he had chosen Stephen Miran, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, to serve in the just vacated seat on the Federal Reserve Board until Jan 31, 2026. Meanwhile, the Trump administration will continue to search for a permanent replacement for the vacancy left by Fed Governor Adriana Kugler, whose resignation was due to be effective on Friday. He served as an adviser on economic policy for the US Department of the Treasury from 2020 to 2021. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is designed to have seven members, who are nominated by the US president and confirmed by the Senate.

VENEZUELA

Washington's bounty for Maduro condemned

The Venezuelan government on Thursday condemned the announcement made by US Attorney General Pam Bondi to offer a reward of $50 million for information leading to the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil described the action as a "crude political propaganda operation". The minister denounced that the offer lacked legal and moral support, serving the political interests of the extreme right in the US and Venezuela. He recalled that Venezuela has condemned covert operations and destabilizing plots by the US, many of which have been foiled by the security agencies.

Xinhua - Agencies